24

Devon sat in silence, reeling in his disbelief. Of everything he expected Kiara’s conversation to be about, sealing their mating bond was the last thing he expected from her.

“Are you not going to say anything?” The confidence she built up to bring this conversation on was depilating with every second he was silent.

“I, umm…” he rubbed his lips together and adjusted on his seat, “I was just shocked. Go ahead, it seems you have more to say.” 

“Well, the more I have to say is my condition,” he nodded, urging her to go on and suddenly a wave of nervousness caused her stomach to knot. She couldn’t think of any reason he’d agree to her condition, other than the fact that she was his mate, and she has already learnt that being mates is not always enough reason. 

“I am going to hear you out, Kiara, and if it is something that I can do, I will definitely do it for you.” He had noticed her squirming around, and the way her eyes carefully avoided his gaze, but the second those words left his lips, her shoulders sagged and she smiled.

“Thank you,” clearing her throat, she straightened her back, “the only thing I want is for the truth to be exposed. I want the world to know what Kristen and his father did, that way my parents will be avenged, and my rightful position will be mine once again. However, I am unable to do this on my own, and that is where I need your help.”

He already knew what she was driving out, and all the ways she was hinting at that he could help her, but rather than acknowledging that, Devon cocked his head to his left and raised both his brows. “Tell me, how can I help?”

Kiara’s brows pulled together, forming wrinkle lines on her forehead as she tried to figure out if he was being serious or just pulling her legs, but when the look on his face remained, she exhaled through her lips. He wanted her to place all her cards on the table, but the truth was, she didn’t know either. 

“Your pack is the most feared for a reason, you have access to intel, to strong soldiers, there should be a way for you to help me.”

“You did not deny the accusation they made,” he said and she swallowed, “you should have planted doubts to their statement from the very beginning, that would have been an evidence to work with.”

“But I did not agree to their accusation.”

“You did not refuse either.” 

Kiara’s nostrils flared and she took a deep breath, but said nothing in response. He was right, but then again, she was too distraught to even think back then. She had been betrayed and hurt, was she supposed to think of ways to revenge on the spot?

“It’s going to take time,” Devon said after a while and her attention was immediately on him, “but we will do it. I will help you get back at Kristen,but-“ the smile that already formed on Kiara’s face fell, “-we cannot put off sealing our mating bond till it is done. This pack needs their Luna, and you cannot properly assume that position without us mating.”

Her hand found the locket on her neck and she fiddled with it. Getting a mate was the reason she lost her parents in the first place, it will feel like a big betrayal if she should mate without getting them the justice they deserve. It will feel even worse, because he is just a man she has only ever read about. A total stranger.

Devon’s eyes went from her finger latched around the locket back to her face, he could tell the wheels were turning in her head, and he thought of reaching out and telling her that it would be fine, that she could trust him, but he didn’t, “There is going to be another full moon in a month, when it comes around, I’d hope things would have changed between us.”

Swallowing, Kiara forced a smile on her face and nodded. A month. What could possibly happen in one month that would make her change her mind without fulfilling what she has to do.

“That is all you wanted to talk to me about, right?”

“Yes, that is all.”

“My turn then,” placing his elbows on the desk, he rested his jaw lightly on his conjoined fingers and leaned in. “You know of The Council.” It was more of a statement than a question, but Kiara nodded nonetheless. 

“What about them?”

“They have demanded an audience with me and you,” her heart skipped a beat, knocking the breath clean off her for a moment. Being called by the council was not a good sign, it has never been a good sign. “Have you ever been called to the council?” Too shell shocked to speak, she shook her head from side to side, and Devon exhaled, he guessed as much, and the look in her eyes let him know he was going to need a lot more preparation than he initially planned.

“Well, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind if you are going to appear before the council, and I have prepared a 5 days crash course for you, and I expect you to learn all you can within those 5 days.  I will need you to be able to stand your ground before them.”

“Do you have any idea why they have demanded an audience with me?”

Devon held her gaze then slowly shook his head, it was a lie, but he couldn’t afford to have her be anymore agitated than she already was. “We meet them in five days, so give those courses your all.”

Thinning her lips, Kiara slowly bobbed her head. “When do I start?”

He looked at his watch, “your first tutor is already waiting outside for you as we speak.”

She glances towards the door and let out a sigh, then stood to her feet. “I guess I should get going, thank you for… everything?” He managed a small smile in response, and then Kiara walked away.

“Kiara?” He called just as she was about to walk out the door, “I’ll pick you up after your classes. Dress nice.”